In the UK, Workplace Injury Rights ensure that workers are protected against avoidable injuries in their place of employment. Employers are required to provide a safe working environment – and where they fail to take reasonable steps to do so, they could face action through the courts, and be forced to pay damages.
Let’s take a look at a few of the steps that injured workers might take in the aftermath of an injury.
Immediate Steps Following a Workplace Injury
To begin with, we should consider the actions taken immediately after the injury occurs. Once the environment has been made safe, and medical attention has been sought, the injury, and its causes, should be documented in the business’s accident book. This will help the business to troubleshoot the causes of the problem, and ensure that it doesn’t happen again. It will also help to resolve any disputes that may arise during court proceedings.
Accessing Medical Attention and Support
Workplace Injury Rights guarantee that employees have a legal right to seek medical attention in the event of an injury. Employers have a duty, what’s more, to facilitate access to medical treatment. In most cases, this means phoning an ambulance, and providing first aid. By ensuring that the workforce is adequately trained in first aid, employers can lower the risk, and make the environment safer.
While you recover from your injury, you may be entitled to either Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), or contractual sick pay. The former is a legal requirement for all businesses, while the latter might be provided by your contract of employment. You can expect SSP for up to twenty-eight weeks, and it provides £116.75 per week.
Understanding Employer Responsibilities
Employers, as we’ve mentioned, are legally obliged to provide a safe working environment. This obligation is laid out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. But what exactly constitutes a safe working environment? The requirements might vary depending on the nature of the business, and the risks faced by employees. A hard hat might be required in a construction site, while comfortable chairs might provided in an office.
All workplaces might benefit from staff training, the provision of equipment, and regular risk assessments whose recommendations are swiftly implemented.
Pursuing Compensation for Workplace Injuries
If you’ve been injured at work, then you have a right to seek compensation. In most cases, your employer will be protected by liability insurance, which will cover the cost of your claim. The legal process can often seem arcane and intimidating, but by working alongside the right legal experts, you’ll give yourself a good chance of success.
Protection Against Retaliation
It might be that you fear retaliatory measures taken by your employer. But, rest assured, Workplace Injury Rights ensure they aren’t allowed to treat you any differently because you’ve lodged a claim against them. If they do, they might suffer further legal penalties.
